OFF-ROAD QUICK TIPS

1 Get some guidance

Driving off-road isn’t rocket science, but does require skills you won’t have learned just from driving on tarmac. Be familiar with how your Land Rover’s traction systems work – centre diff-lock, lowrange gears, 4WD selection and electronic aids such as Terrain Response and Hill Descent Control will all help where applicable.

It’s well worth jumping in with an experienced driver or instructor to learn the basics, and then you will find your skills and confidence growing the more time you spend behind the wheel.

2 Read the ground

To avoid getting stuck or potentially damaging the Land Rover, jump out and check the area before driving in. If you know ruts are too deep and will cause the underside of the vehicle to get hung up, straddle them where possible.

Similarly, never drive into unknown water or deep mud without checking the depth first. Wade in with boots and use a stick to check the level, and prod around under the surface for any big rocks or stumps that could catch you out on your way through.

3 Be prepared

Make sure your Land Rover has suitable recovery points front and rear, and that they are easily accessible. Only attempt a recovery if you are confident you can do it safely – if you can’t, leave it to someone who can. Strap down all heavy objects inside the vehicle to prevent them from bouncing around and potentially causing injury in the event of a roll-over. Check your oil and water levels, and ensure the vehicle is in overall good mechanical condition.

4 Remain in control

You may have heard the age-old phrase of ‘as slow as possible, as fast as necessary’. It’s true – you need to keep the speed down low enough to make calculated decisions as you drive and ensure the Land Rover and its wheels are in the right places, but sometimes momentum is needed to carry the weight of the vehicle through an obstacle without getting stuck. Use speed sparingly and only when you can be sure you can stay in full control.

5 Tyres mean traction…

…and traction is everything. Choosing the right tyre for the terrain comes with experience and time, but grip is vital to stay moving, steer and brake effectively. All-terrain tyres give a good blend of on and off-tarmac capability, but for wet mud and slippier surfaces a mud-terrain tyre is what you need. Lowering the pressure lets the tyre squash slightly and increases contact patch with the ground, and also lets it mould around rocks and roots more easily. Always re-inflate tyres back to the correct pressure before driving on the road, though.